The service lane under North Usman Road flyover on Mahalingapuram Main Road in Kodambakkam was relaid recently by the Greater Chennai Corporation, following a report about its condition in the issue of The Hindu Downtown dated August 10, 2018. Residents are however unhappy with the work.
Earlier, the 200 metre-long service lane had been dug up by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) to replace old pipelines along the stretch. It was a month since CMWSSB completed its work. However, the Corporation did not relay the service lane citing fund crunch.
Now, they road has just been levelled; residents ask for a proper bitumen-topped road.
They also point out that cables are lying on the lane.
“There are still protruding cables to be found on the lane. There are cables lying at the intersection of the service lane and the ramp of the North Usman Road flyover. Moreover, the service lane is not well-lit. At night, the risk of accidents is high,” says S. Vanitha, a resident of T. Nagar. “Once the funds are sanctioned, bitumen-topping of the road will be carried out,” says a Corporation official. Motorists from Kodabakkam, Vadapalani, Choolaimedu, Ashok Nagar, K.K. Nagar, Koyambedu and Virugambakkam prefer taking this service lane to negotiating the chaotic Valluvar Kottam and Gemini flyover junctions, on their way to Anna Salai. The flyover which connects North Usman Road with Mahalingapuram Main Road intersecting Kodambakkam High Road, was inaugurated on March 30, 2008, at a cost of Rs. 9. 72 crore, to ease the traffic congestion on North Usman Road in T. Nagar and Kodambakkam.
